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I 


t 


GOLD NUGGETS 

OF 

LITERATURE 

Poems for the School-room 


SELECTED AND GRADED BY 

ALFRED O. TOWER, A.M. 

H 

For Memorizing 


BOOK I 

Grades I, II, and III 


EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
BOSTON 

New York Chicago San Francisco 




Tit'll 7 

T4 


/ 


Copyright, 1912 

BY 

EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 


£ Cl. A 305942 

NO* I' 




PREFACE 


The object in adding another book of memory poems 
to the numerous volumes already published is to make 
available in one book poems really worth learning. 

Books of poems for memorizing, in general, contain 
too large a percentage of selections which are not literary, 
and such books in the hands of inexperienced teachers 
or those not capable of literary discrimination have 
seriously marred the work of the school. Nothing but 
real gold will be found in this volume, unless exception 
be taken to the language and rhetoric of some of the 
national and folk songs, which, however, have other 
compensating qualities. 

The arrangement by grades and terms will be found 
helpful, and will relieve the teacher of deciding what is 
adapted to each class. The grading of the national and 
folk songs is that which has been in actual use for several 
years in the schools under my supervision and was ap¬ 
proved by the supervisor of music. 

A supplementary list of poems has been added in order 
that the teacher who remains a long time in one school 
may vary the work a little from year to year. 

The author’s opinion as to the proper way to conduct 
the exercises in school may be found in the “Directions 
for the Memory Work.” 

A. O. Tower 

Sheffield, Mass. 

in 





0 

» 


9 




% 




4 


i • 

f 


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 


Grateful acknowledgments are due the publishers who have 
courteously permitted the use of copyrighted selections, as 
follows: 

“The Night Wind,” from “Love Songs of Childhood,” by 
Eugene Field. Copyright, 1894, by Charles Scribner’s Sons. 
“One, Two, Three,” from “Poems by H. C. Bunner,” Copy¬ 
right, 1884, by Charles Scribner’s Sons. “Gradatim,” from 
“Complete Poetical Works of J. G. Holland.” Copyright, 
1879, 1881, by Charles Scribner’s Sons. 

“Sheridan’s Ride,” “The Windy Night,” and “The Revo¬ 
lutionary Rising,” by Thomas Buchanan Read. By permis¬ 
sion of J. B. Lippincott Company. 

“Columbus.” Copyright, 1897, by the Whitaker & Ray 
Company, and republished from Joaquin Miller’s Poems, 
issued by the Whitaker & Ray-Wiggin Company of San 
Francisco. 

“Marco Bozzaris,” reprinted from the “Poetical Works of 
Fitz-Greene Halleck.” “Autumn Woods,” “Death of the 
Flowers,” “Hurricane,” “ March/’ “The Snow-Shower,” 
“To the Fringed Gentian,” and “The Yellow Violet,” re¬ 
printed from “Bryant’s Complete Poetical Works.” By per¬ 
mission of D. Appleton & Company. 

The selections from Longfellow, Lowell, Whittier, Holmes, 
Emerson, Lucy Larcom, Alice and Phoebe Cary, and Frank 
Dempster Sherman are used by permission of, and special ar¬ 
rangement with, Houghton, Mifflin Company, authorized 
publishers of their works. 

Thanks are also due Mr. Henry Holcomb Bennett for per¬ 
mission to use his poem, “The Flag Goes By,” and Little, 
Brown & Company for poems by Helen Hunt Jackson and 
Susan Coolidge. 







CONTENTS 


Kitty .. 

The Wind. 

The Lost Doll. 

When Santa Claus Comes . 

The New Moon . 

My Shadow. 

The Raindrop’s Ride . 

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star . . 

The Swing. 

The Secret. 

The Dandelion. 

Answer to a Child’s Question 

America . 

Yankee Doodle. 

Sweet and Low. 

The Moon. 

The Cow ....... 

Little Jack Frost. 

The Fairy Artist. 

The Dandelion. 

The Wind and the Leaves 
Farewell to the Farm . 

Little Raindrops . 

A Christmas Carol. 

The Wind. 

Young Night Thought . 

The Land of Nod. 

A Riddle. 

Daisies. 

Dandelion. 

The Tree.. . 


Anon . i 

Christina G. Rossetti . 2 

Charles Kingsley . . 2 

A non . 3 

Eliza Follen .... 4 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 5 

Anon . 6 

Jane Taylor . . . , 7 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 8 

Anon . 8 

Anon . 9 

Samuel T. Coleridge . 10 

Samuel F. Smith . . 10 

Richard Shuckburg . . 12 

Alfred Tennyson ... 15 

Eliza Follen .... 19 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 17 

Anon .17 

Anon .18 

Kate L. Brown ... 19 

George Cooper ... 21 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 21 

Louise Colton ... 22 

Christina G. Rossetti . 23 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 24 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 25 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 26 

Anon .27 

Frank Dempster Sherman 28 

N. Garabrant ... 28 

B. Bjornson .... 29 


T 





































II 


Contents 


Bed in Summer. 

. Robert Louis Stevenson 


30 

The Star Spangled Banner 

. F. S. Key ... 


3 i 

Old Folks at Home .... 

. Foster . 


33 

All Through the Night 

. From the Welsh . 


35 

Old Grimes. 

. A. G. Greene 


36 

The Boy and the Sheep 

. Jane Taylor . 


38 

Good Night and Good Morning . 

. Lord Houghton . 


39 

The Song of the Thrush 

. Lucy Larcom 


40 

April. 

. Anon . 


41 

Clovers. 



42 

September. 

. Helen Hunt Jackson 


43 

The Little Leaves. 

. George Cooper 


44 

The Child and the Bird 

. Margaret Sangster . 


45 

Christmas Everywhere .... 

. Phillips Brooks . 


46 

The New Year. 

. Mary Zetterberg . 


47 

The Snowflakes. 



48 

The Moon. 

. Robert Louis Stevenson 


48 

The Sky Bridge . 

. Christina G. Rossetti 


49 

The Owl and the Pussy Cat . 

. Edward Lear 


50 

Seven Times One. 



5 i 

The Runaways. 

. Kate L. Brown . 


52 

The Bluebird. 

. Emily H. Miller 


54 

The American Hymn .... 

. M. Kellar 


55 

My Old Kentucky Home . 

. Foster . 


57 

Afton Water. 

. Robert Burns 


58 

The Village Blacksmith . . . 

. Henry W. Longfellow 


60 

Hurrah for the Flag .... 

. Mary Howliston 


62 

A Child’s Thought of God . . 

. Elizabeth B. Browning 


63 

A Winter Song . 

. Emily H. Miller 


64 

Jack Frost. 



65 

The Rainbow Fairies .... 

. Lizzie M. Hadley 


66 

Little Orphant Annie .... 

. James W. Riley . 


67 

The Tree, the Nest and the Eggs 

Anon . 


70 

Four Leaf Clover. 

. Ella Higginson . 


7 i 





























COMPLETE LIST OF POEMS BY GRADES 
AND TERMS 

BOOK I. 

GRADE I. 


FALL TERM. 

1. Kitty . Anon . i 

2. The Wind. Christina G. Rossetti . 2 

3. The Lost Doll. Charles Kingsley . . 2 

4. When Santa Claus Comes . . . Anon . 3 

WINTER TERM. 

1. The New Moon. Eliza Follen .... 4 

2. My Shadow. Robert Louis Stevenson . 5 

3. The Raindrop’s Ride .... Anon . 6 

4. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star . . Jane Taylor .... 7 

SPRING TERM. 

1. The Swing. Robert Louis Stevenson . 8 

2. The Secret. A non . 8 

3. The Dandelion. Anon . 9 

4. Answer to a Child’s Question . Samuel T. Coleridge . 10 

NATIONAL SONGS 

1. America . Samuel F. Smith . . 10 

2. Yankee Doodle. Richard Shuckburg . . 12 

FOLK SONG 

1. Sweet and Low. Alfred Tennyson ... 15 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS. 

1. The Moon. Eliza Follen .... 19 

2. The Cow. Robert Louis Stevenson . 17 

3. Little Jack Frost. Anon .17 

4. The Fairy Artist. Anon .18 

5. The Dandelion. Kate L. Brown ... 19 


GRADE II. 

FALL TERM. 

1. The Wind and the Leaves . . George Cooper ... 21 

2. Farewell to the Farm .... Robert Louis Stevenson . 21 

3. Little Raindrops. Louise Colton ... 22 

4. A Christmas Carol. Christina G. Rossetti . 23 

III 




























IV 


List oj Poems 


WINTER TERM. 


I. 

The Wind. 

. Robert Louis Stevenson . 

24 

2. 

Young Night Thought . . . 

. Robert Louis Stevensmt . 

25 

3- 

The Land of Nod .... 

. Robert Louis Stevenson . 

26 

4- 

A Riddle. 

. Anon . 

27 


SPRING TERM. 


i. 

Daisies. 

. Frank Dempster Sherman 

28 

2. 

Dandelion. 

. N. Garabrant . . . 

28 

3- 

The Tree. 


29 

4- 

Bed in Summer. 

. Robert Louis Stevenson . 

30 


NATIONAL 

SONG. 


i. 

The Star Spangled Banner 

. F.S. Key .... 

31 


FOLK SONGS. 


i. 

Old Folks at Home 

. Foster . 

33 

2. 

All Through the Night 

. From the Welsh . 

35 

3- 

Old Grimes. 


36 


SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS. 


I. 

The Boy and the Sheep 

. Jane Taylor .... 

38 

2 . 

Good Night and Good Morning 

. Lord Houghton . 

39 

3- 

The Song of the Thrush . 

Lucy Larcom 

40 

4- 

April. 

. Anon . 

41 

5- 

Clovers. 


42 


GRADE 

III. 



FALL TERM. 


i. 

September. 

. Helen Hunt Jackson 

43 

2. 

The Little Leaves .... 

. George Cooper 

44 

3- 

The Child and the Bird 

. Margaret Sangster . 

45 

4- 

Christmas Everywhere . 

Phillips Brooks . 

46 


WINTER 

TERM. 


i. 

The New Year. 

. Mary Zetterberg . 

47 

2. 

The Snowflakes. 

. F. D. Sherman . 

48 

3- 

The Moon ... . . 

Robert Louis Stevenson . 

48 

4- 

The Sky Bridge. 

Christina G. Rossetti 

49 


SPRING TERM. 


i. 

The Owl and the Pussy Cat . 

Edward Lear 

5° 

2. 

Seven Times One. 

Jean Ingelow . . . 

Si 

3- 

The Runaways. 

Kate L. Brown . 

52 

4- 

The Bluebird. 

Emily H. Miller 

54 


NATIONAL 

SONG 


?• 

The American Hymn t . 

M. Kellar .... 

55 




















4k C/J 


List o} Poems v 

FOLK SONGS. 


r. 

My Old Kentuckv Home . 

Foster . 

57 

2. 

Afton Water. 

Robert Burns 

58 


SUPPLEMENTARY 

POEMS. 


1. 

The Village Blacksmith 

Henry IF. Longfellow . 

60 

2. 

Hurrah for the Flag .... 

Mary Howliston 

62 

3 - 

A Child’s Thought of God . . 

Elizabeth B. Browning 

63 

4 - 

A Winter Song . 

Emily H. Miller . . 

64 

5 * 

Jack Frost. 

Anon . 

65 

6. 

The Rainbow Fairies .... 

Lizzie M. Hadley 

66 

7 - 

Little Orphant Annie .... 

James W. Riley . . . 

67 

8. 

The Tree, the Nest and the Eggs 

A non . 

70 

9 - 

Four Leaf Clover. 

Ella Higginson . 

7 i 


BOOK II. 

GRADE IV. 


FALL TERM. 

1. The Child’s World. W. B. Rands .... 73 

2. October’s Bright Blue Weather . Helen Hunt Jackson . 74 

. How the Leaves Came Down . Susan Coolidge ... 75 

. A Visit from St. Nicholas . . C. Moore .... 77 

WINTER TERM. 

1. Jack Frost. Hannah F. Gould . . 80 

2. March. Lucy Larcom .... 81 

3. Romance. G. Letoun .82 

4. Night with a Wolf. Bayard Taylor ... 83 

5. The Man in the Moon . . . Anon .85 

SPRING TERM. 

1. The Flag in Nature . . - S. F. Smith .... 86 

2. Fairy Folk. Alice Cary .... 87 

3. What Robin Told. George Cooper ... 88 

4. The Violet . Line Taylor .... 89 

NATIONAL SONG. 

1. Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean . Shaw .90 

FOLK SONGS. 

1. Massa’s in the Cold, Cold Ground Foster .91 

2. The Old Oaken Bucket . - - Samuel Woodworth . . 92 

3. The Bluebells of Scotland . . - Mrs. Jordan .... 94 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS. 

1. The Night Wind. Eugene Field .... 95 

2. Thanksgiving Day. Lydia Maria Child . 97 

3. The Vowels. Jonathan Swift ... 98 



















VI 


List oj Poems 


4 - 

One, Two, Three. 

H. C. Bunner . . . 

99 

5 - 

The Arbutus. 

A non . 

IOI 

6. 

The Kitten and the Falling Leaves 

Wordsworth .... 

102 

7 - 

A Christmas Carol. 

Old English .... 

103 


GRADE 

V. 



FALL TERM. 


r. 

To the Fringed Gentian . 

Wiliam Cullen Bryant . 

105 

2. 

The Com Song. 

John Greenleaj Whittier 

106 

3 - 

The Wind and the Moon . 

George Macdonald 

107 

4 - 

My Country. 

Hesperion .... 

109 

5 - 

The Christmas Tree .... 

Mary A. McHugh . 

no 


WINTER TERM. 


i. 

The First Snowfall. 

James Russell Lowell 

in 

2. 

Winter Apples. 

Whitney . 

11 3 

3 - 

The Landing of the Pilgrims . 

F. Hemans .... 

114 

4 - 

The Arab to His Favorite Steed . 

C. E. S. Norton . . 

116 


SPRING TERM. 


I. 

The Tiger. 

William Blake 

120 

2. 

A Laughing Chorus .... 

Anon . 

121 

3 - 

April. 


123 

4 - 

The Yellow Violet .... 

W. C. Bryant. . . . 

123 

5 - 

The Blue and the Gray . . . 

Francis Miles Finch. 

125 


NATIONAL SONG. 


i. 

Battle Hymn of the Republic . . 

Julia Ward Howe . 

128 


FOLK SONGS. 


i. 

Annie Laurie. 

W. Douglas and Lady Scott 

130 

2 . 

Old Black Joe. 


131 


SUPPLEMENTARY 

POEMS. 


I. 

The Windy Night. 

Thomas B. Read 

132 

2 , 

The Death of the Flowers . . 

W. C. Bryant. 

i 34 

3 - 

The Flag Goes By. 

H. H. Bennett . 

136 

4 - 

Snowflakes. 

H. W. Longfellow . 

138 

5 - 

The Mountain and the Squirrel . 

R. W. Emerson . 

139 

6. 

Columbus. 

Joaquin Miller 

140 


GRADE VI. 



FALL TERM. 


i. 

The Coral Grove. 

Percival . 

143 

2 . 

A Psalm of Life. 

H. W. Longfellow . 

144 

3 - 

Polonius’ Advice. 

Shakespeare .... 

146 

4 - 

O Little Town of Bethlehem . . 

Phillips Brooks . 

147 


WINTER TERM. 


I. 

The Snow-Shower. 

W. C. Bryant. 

148 

2. 

The Hurricane. 

W. C. Bryant. 

!5° 

3- 

At Sea. 

Allan Cunningham 

153 




















List oj Poems 


VII 



SPRING TERM. 



I. 

The Mayflowers 

. J . G. Whittier 


i 54 

2 . 

Slavery .... 

W. Cowper 

* 

i 5 S 

3 - 

Decoration Day . 

. S. F. Smith . 

9 

i 57 

4 - 

The Builders 


• - 

158 



NATIONAL SONGS. 



1. 

Battle Cry of Freedom 

. Julia Ward Howe 


160 

2. 

Hail Columbia . 


■ * 

162 



FOLK SONG. 



1. 

Auld Lang Syne . 


, . 

164 


SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS. 



1. 

Find a Way or Make It . . . John G. Saxe . . 

. 

166 

2. 

Independence Bell 

. Anon . 


167 

3 - 

Old Ironsides 


170 

4 * 

Burial of Sir John Moore . . . Charles Wolfe 


171 

5 - 

The Rainbow' . 

Thomas Campbell 

■ * 

i 73 



BOOK III 





GRADE VII. 





FALL TERM. 



1. 

The Cloud . 

. Shelley . 


175 

2. 

Ivy Green 



178 

3 * 

The Bells of Shandon 

. Mahoney . 


180 

4 . 

Christmas Song 

. Phillips Brooks . 


181 



WINTER TERM. 



1. 

Three Words of Strength . . . Schiller . . . 


183 

2. 

Love of Country 

. Scott .... 


184 

3 - 

O Captain! My Captain . . . Walt Whitman 


184 

4 - 

The Eagle . . . 



186 



SPRING TERM. 



1. 

The Concord Fight 

. R. W. Emerson . 


186 

2. 

The American Flag 

. Joseph R. Drake 


187 

3 - 

Warren’s Address . 

. Pierpont . 


190 

4 - 

A Day in June . 

. J. R. Lowell . . 


191 

5 * 

Apple Blossoms 

Anon . 


i 93 



NATIONAL SONG. 



1. 

Watch on the Rhine 

. Max Schneckenburger . 

195 



FOLK SONGS. 



1. 

Dixie Land . 

. . D. D. Emmett 


196 

2. 

Oft in the Stilly Night 

. Thomas Moore . 

- - 

196 


SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS. 



1. 

Gradatim . . . 

. J. G. Holland 

. 

198 

2. 

The Trailing Arbutus 

. . . J. G. Whittier . . 

. 

199 




















vm List 0} 

Poems 


3 - 

The Seminole’s Defiance . 

. G. W. Patten . 

. 200 

4 - 

The Chambered Nautilus . . 

. O. W. Holmes . . 

. 201 

5 - 

Sheridan’s Ride. 

. T. B. Read . 

. 203 

6. 

Charge of the Light Brigade 

. Tennyson 

. 206 


GRADES VIII & IX. 



FALL 

TERM. 


1. 

Each and All. 

. R. W. Emerson . 

. 209 

2. 

Autumn Woods .... 

. W. C. Bryant 

. 210 

•?, 

The Castle by the Sea . . 

. H. W. Longfellow . 

. 212 

4 - 

Christmas. 

. Sir Walter Scott . 

. 213 


WINTER 

TERM. 


1. 

The Snow Storm .... 

. R. W. Emerson . 

• 215 

2. 

Alexander Selkirk 

. W. Cowper . 

216 

3 - 

Recessional. 

. Rudyard Kipling 

. 218 

4 - 

March. 


219 


SPRING 

TERM. 


1. 

Flowers. 

. H. W. Longfellow . 

. 220 

2. 

We See Dimly in the Present . 

. J. R. Lowell . 

. 223 

3 - 

Rhodora. 


. 225 

4 - 

Daffodils. 


. 225 


NATIONAL SONGS. 


1. 

Hymn of the Marseillaise . 

. Rouget de Ulsle . 

. 227 

2. 

Men of Harlech .... 

William Duthrie . 

. 229 


FOLK 

SONG. 


3 - 

Home, Sweet Home. 

. John Howard Payne 

- 230 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 


SUPPLEMENTARY 

The Bridge. 

Marco Bozzaris .... 

Ode on Immortality 
One Sweetly Solemn Thought 
Hohenlinden .... 

November. 

The Eve of Waterloo . 

The Revolutionary Rising . 

The Ocean. 


POEMS. 

H. W. Longfellow 
Fitz-Green Halleck 
W. Wordsworth . 
Phoebe Cary . 
Thomas Campbell 
Thomas Hood 
Lord Byron . 

T. B. Read 
Byron .... 


232 

234 

239 

242 

243 

244 

245 
248 
252 


SUPPLEMENTARY SONGS. 


NATIONAL SONGS. 

Tenting on the Old Camp Ground 

(Grade V). Kittredge .... 255 

Memorial Day (Grade VII) . . . S. F. Smith .... 257 

Soldier’s Farewell (Grade VIII) . . From the German . . 258 

FOLK SONGS. 

The Shamrock of Ireland (Grade I) . Andrew Cherry . . 259 

Juanita (Grade V) . r , t . , Mrs . Norton .... 260 


















DIRECTIONS FOR THE MEMORY WORK 


These selections are some of the most beautiful pieces 
of literature in the English language, and should not be 
spoiled by careless treatment. 

The teacher should study them and learn to read 
them in a charming way. Do not allow the pupils to re¬ 
peat them with the wrong emphasis or with slovenly 
articulation or sing-song rhythm. Have little concert 
work above the third grade, and by no means all concert 
work in the primary grades. Make use of these selections 
often at the opening exercises of the school, by asking 
one or two pupils to step to the platform and recite a 
complete poem. In order to ascertain the progress of the 
classes in committing the lines, have them written as writ¬ 
ing lessons. Do not desecrate these poems by making 
a grammar or language lesson out of them. In fact, 
nothing disagreeable should ever be allowed to occur in 
connection with this work. Make it a pleasure and a 
privilege for the pupils to be allowed to repeat the poems. 
The whole responsibility rests with the teacher. It will be 
remembered that generally more selections are given than 
may be needed and therefore the teachers will have a 
chance to suit their individual liking, to a certain extent. 
Three or four a term are considered sufficient for each 
grade, and in the mixed grades, a judicious selection 
from the lists may be used. 

The poems are arranged with reference to the season 
of the year. The teacher should look over the work for 
the term carejully and plan the selections accordingly. 

The pupils should know the name of the authob of the 
poem they are learning, and the teacher should tell some 
of the interesting incidents in the life of each author. 

Teach no poems ahead of the term and year for which 
they are planned, but back poems may be used if desired. 


IX 



GRADE I 

FALL TERM 


KITTY* 

O kitty, my kitty! 

How dainty and pretty 
You look in your soft snowy coat. 

With your vest of pure white, 

And your mittens drawn tight, 

And that lovely jet band ’round your throat. 

I was dreaming last night, 

And I woke with a fright, 

For my dream was of “Ding Dong Bell.” 
Do you wonder I screamed, 

When I actually dreamed 
That you were the puss in the well? 

So kitty, my kitty, 

So dainty and pretty, 

Lie close to my ear while you purr. 

Let me cuddle you tight, 

And forget my wild fright, 

As I stroke your soft, beautiful fur. 

♦ Reprinted from St. Nicholas by permission of The Century Company. 


2 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 


GRADE I FALL TERM 

THE WIND 

Who has seen the wind ? 

Neither I nor you; 

But when the leaves hang trembling 
The wind is passing through. 

Who has seen the wind? 

Neither you nor I; 

But when the trees bow down their heads 
The wind is passing by. 

— Christina G. Rossetti 


THE LOST DOLL 

I once had a sweet little doll, dears, 

The prettiest doll in the world; 

Her cheeks were so red and so white, dears, 
And her hair was so charmingly curled; 
And I lost my sweet little doll, dears, 

As I played on the heath one day, 

And I cried for her more than a week, dears, 
But I never could find where she lay. 

I found my poor little doll, dears, 

As I played on the heath one day; 

Folks say she is terribly changed, dears, 


GRADE I 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 3 

FALL TERM 


For her paint is all washed away; 

And her arms trodden off by the cows, dears, 
And her hair not the least bit curled; 

Yet for old sake’s sake she is still, dears, 
The prettiest doll in the world. 

— Charles Kingsley 


WHEN SANTA CLAUS COMES 

Merrily, merrily, merrily O! 

The reindeer prance across the snow; 

We hear their tinkling silver bells, 

Whose merry music softly tells 
Old Santa Claus is coming. 

Merrily, merrily, merrily O! 

The evergreens in the woodland grow; 

They rustle gently in the breeze; 

O, don’t you think the Christmas trees 
Know Santa Claus is coming? 

Merrily, merrily, merrily, O! 

We’ve hung our stockings in a row, 

Into our beds we’ll softly creep, 

Just shut our eyes and go to sleep, 

And wait — for Santa Claus is coming. 

— Anon, 


4 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 
GRADE I WINTER TERM 


WINTER TERM 

THE NEW MOON 

Dear Mother, how pretty the moon looks to-night! 

She was never so pretty before; 

Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright, 

I hope she’ll not grow any more. 

If I were up there, with you and my friends, 

I’d rock in it nicely, you’d see; 

I’d sit in the middle and hold by both ends; 

O what a bright cradle ’twould be! 

We’d call to the stars to keep out of the way, 

Lest we should rock over their toes; 

And there we would rock till the dawn of the day 
And see where the pretty moon goes. 

And there we would stay in the beautiful skies, 
And through the bright clouds we would roam; 
We would see the sun set, and see the sun rise, 
And on the next rainbow come home. 

—-Eliza Follen 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 5 

GRADE I WINTER TERM 

MY SHADOW 

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with 
me, 

And what can be the use of him is more than I 
can see. 

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the 
head; 

And I see him jump before me, when I jump into 
my bed. 

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to 
grow — 

Not at all like proper children, which is always 
very slow, 

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India- 
rubber ball, 

And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none 
of him at all. 

He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play, 

And can only make a fool of me in every sort of 
way. 

He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward, you can 
see; 

I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow 
sticks to me! 


6 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE I WINTER TERM 

One morning, very early, before the sun was up, 

I rose and found the shining dew on every butter¬ 
cup; 

But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, 
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast 
asleep in bed. 

— R. L. Stevenson 

THE RAINDROPS’ RIDE 

Some little drops of water 
Whose home was in the sea, 

To go upon a journey 
Once happened to agree. 

A white cloud was their carriage; 

Their horse, a playful breeze; 

And over town and country 
They rode along at ease. 

But, oh! there were so many, 

At last the carriage broke, 

And to the ground came tumbling 
Those frightened little folk. 

Among the grass and flowers 
They then were forced to roam, 

Until a brooklet found them 
And carried them all home. 


— Anon. 


GRADE I 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 7 

WINTER TERM 


TWINKLE TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR 

Twinkle, twinkle, little star! 

How I wonder what you are, 

Up above the world so high, 

Like a diamond in the sky. 

When the glorious sun is set, 

When the grass with dew is wet, 

Then you show your little light, 
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. 

In the dark-blue sky you keep, 

And often through my curtains peep, 

For you never shut your eye, 

Till the sun is in the sky. 

As your bright and tiny spark 
Guides the traveller in the dark, 

Though I know not what you are, 
Twinkle, twinkle, little star! 

— Jane Taylor 


8 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 
GRADE I SPRING TERM 

SPRING TERM 

THE SWING 

How do you like to go up in a swing, 

Up in the air so blue? 

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing 
Ever a child can do! 

Up in the air and over the wall, 

Till I can see so wide, 

Rivers and trees and cattle and all 
Over the countryside — 

Till I look down on the garden green, 

Down on the roof so brown — 

Up in the air I go flying again, 

Up in the air and down! 

— R. L. Stevenson 


THE SECRET 

We have a secret — just we three, 

The robin and I and the sweet cherry tree. 
The bird told the tree and the tree told me; 
And nobody knows but just us three, 


GRADE I 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 9 

SPRING TERM 


Of course the robin knows it best, 

Because she built — I sha’n’t tell the rest — 

And laid the four little somethings in it — 

I’m afraid I shall tell it every minute! 

But if the birds and the trees don’t peep, 

I’ll try my best the secret to keep; 

But of course, when the little birds fly about, 

Then the whole secret will be out! 

— Anon. 

THE DANDELION 

O dandelion, yellow as gold, 

What do you do all day? 

I just wait and wait in the tall green grass 
Till the children come to play. 

O dandelion, yellow as gold, 

What do you do all night ? 

I wait and wait till the cool dews fall, 

And my hair grows long and white. 

And what do you do when your hair is white, 
And the children come to play? 

They take me up in their dimpled hands, 
And blow my hair away. 


io Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE I SPRING TERM 

ANSWER TO A CHILD’S QUESTION 

Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the 
dove,. 

The linnet and thrush say, “I love! and I love!” 

In the winter they’re silent — the wind is so strong; 
What it says, I don’t know, but it sings a loud song. 
But green leaves and blossoms and sunny warm 
weather 

And singing and loving — all come back together. 
But the lark is so brimful of gladness and love, 

The green fields below him, the blue sky above, 
That he sings, and he sings; and forever sings he — 
“I love my Love, and my Love loves me!” 

— Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

GRADE I NATIONAL SONGS 

NATIONAL SONGS 

AMERICA 

My country, ’tis of thee, 

Sweet land of Liberty, 

Of thee I sing; 

Land where my fathers died, 

Land of the pilgrim’s pride, 

From every mountain-side 
Let Freedom ring. 


GRADE I 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature n 

NATIONAL SONGS 

My native country, thee, 

Land of the noble free — 

Thy name I love; 

I love thy rocks and rills, 

Thy woods and templed hills; 

My heart with rapture thrills 
Like that above. 

Let music swell the breeze, 

And ring from all the trees 
Sweet Freedom’s song; 

Let mortal tongues awake; 

Let all that breathe partake; 

Let rocks their silence break — 

The sound prolong. 

Our father’s God, to Thee, 

Author of Liberty, 

To Thee we sing; 

Long may our land be bright 

With Freedom’s holy light; 

Protect us by Thy might, 

Great God, our King. 

— S. F. Smith 


12 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE I NATIONAL SONGS 

YANKEE DOODLE 

Father and I went down to camp, 

Along with Cap’n Goodin/ 

And there we saw the men and boys 
As thick as hasty pudding. 

Yankee Doodle, keep it up, 

Yankee Doodle dandy, 

Mind the music and the step, 

And with the girls be handy. 

And there we see a thousand men, 

As rich as Squire David; 

And what they wasted ev’ry day, 

I wish it could be saved. 

The ’lasses they eat ev’ry day, 

Would keep a house in winter; 

They have so much that, I’ll be bound, 
They eat it when they’ve mind ter. 

And there I see a swamping gun, 

Large as a log of maple, 

Upon a deuced little cart, 

A load for father’s cattle. 


GRADE 1 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 13 

NATIONAL SONGS 


And every time they shoot it off, 

It takes a horn of powder, 

And makes a noise like father’s gun, 
Only a nation louder. 

I went as nigh to one myself, 

As ’Siah’s underpinning; 

And father went as nigh agin, 

I thought the deuce was in him. 

Cousin Simon grew so bold, 

I thought he would have cocked it; 

It scared me so I shrinked it off 
And hung by father’s pocket. 

And Cap’n Davis had a gun, 

He kind of clapt his hand on’t, 

And stuck a crooked stabbing iron 
Upon the little end on’t. 

And there I see a pumpkin shell 
As big as mother’s basin; 

And every time they touched it off 
They scampered like the nation. 

I see a little barrel too, 

The heads were made of leather; 


14 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE I NATIONAL SONGS 

They knocked upon ’t with little clubs 
And called the folks together. 

And there was Cap’n Washington, 

And gentlefolks about him; 

They say he’s grown so ’tarnal proud, 

He will not ride without ’em. 

He got him on his meeting clothes 
Upon a slapping stallion, 

He set the world along in rows, 

In hundreds and in millions. 

The flaming ribbons in his hat, 

They looked so taring fine, ah! 

I wanted dreadfully to get 
To give to my Jemima. 

I see another snarl of men 
A digging graves, they told me, 

So ’tarnal long, so ’tarnal deep, 

They ’tended they should hold me. 

It scared me so I hooked it off, 

Nor stopped, as I remember, 

Nor turned about till I got home, 

Locked up in mother’s chamber. 

— Richard Shuckburg 


GRADE I 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 15 

FOLK SONG 


FOLK SONG 

SWEET AND LOW 

Sweet and low, sweet and low, 

Wind of the western sea, 

Low, low, breathe and blow, 

Wind of the western sea! 

Over the rolling waters go; 

Come from the dying moon, and blow. 

Blow him again to me; 

While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps. 

Sleep and rest, sleep and rest; 

Father will come to thee soon. 

Rest, rest on mother’s breast; 

Father will come to thee soon. 

Father will come to his babe in the nest; 

Silver sails all out of the west. 

Under the silver moon; 

Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep! 

—Alfred Tennyson 


i6 

GRADE 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

THE MOON 

O look at the moon! 

She is shining up there; 

O mother, she looks 
Like a lamp in the air! 

Last week she was smaller, 

And shaped like a bow; 

But now she’s grown bigger, 

And round like an O. 

Pretty moon, pretty moon, 

How you shine on the door, 

And make it all bright 
On my nursery floor! 

You shine on my playthings, 

And show me their place; 

And I love to look up 
At your pretty, bright face. 

And there is a star 

Close by you; and may be 

That small twinkling star 
Is your little baby. 


— Eliza Pollen 


GRADE 1 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 17 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 


THE COW 

The friendly cow all red and white, 

I love with all my heart; 

She gives me cream with all her might, 

To eat with apple-tart. 

She wanders lowing here and there, 

And yet she cannot stray, 

All in the pleasant open air, 

The pleasant light of day; 

And blown by all the winds that pass 
And wet with all the showers, 

She walks among the meadow grass 
And eats the meadow flowers. 

— R. L. Stevenson 

LITTLE JACK FROST 

Little Jack Frost went up the hill, 

Watching the stars and moon so still, 

Watching the stars and moon so bright, 

And laughing aloud with all his might. 

Little Jack Frost ran down the hill, 

Late in the night when the winds were still, 
Late in the Fall when the leaves came down, 
Red and yellow and faded brown. 


18 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE I SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

Little Jack Frost walked through the trees, 

“Ah,” sighed the flowers, “We freeze, we freeze.” 
“Ah,” sighed the grasses, “Jack Frost is nigh.” 
Said Little Jack Frost, “Good-bye, good-bye.” 
Little Jack Frost tripped round and round, 
Spreading white snow on the frozen ground, 

Nipping the breezes, icing the streams, 

Chilling the warmth of the sun’s bright beams. 

But when Dame Nature brought the Spring, 
Brought the birds to chirp and sing, 

Melted the snow and warmed the sky, 

Little Jack Frost went pouting by. 

The flowers opened their eyes of blue, 

Green buds peeped out and grasses grew, 

It was so warm and scorched him so, 

Little Jack Frost was glad to go.— Anon . 

THE FAIRY ARTIST 

Oh, there is a little artist 
Who paints in the cold night hours, 
Pictures for little children 

Of wondrous trees and flowers! 

Pictures of rushing rivers 
By fairy bridges spanned; 

Bits of beautiful landscape 
Copied from elfin land. 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 


i9 


I SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

The moon is the lamp he paints by, 

His canvas, the window-pane, 

His brush is a frozen snowflake, 

Jack Frost is the artist’s name. 

— Anon . 


DANDELION 

He is a roguish little elf, 

A gay audacious fellow, 

Who tramps about in doublet green 
And skirt of brightest yellow; 

In ev’ry field, by ev’ry road, 

He peeps among the grasses, 

And shows his sunny little face 
To ev’ry one that passes. 


Within the churchyard he is seen, 
Beside the headstones peeping, 
And shining like a golden star 
O’er some still form that’s sleeping; 
Beside the house door oft he springs 
In all his wanton straying, 

And children shout in laughing glee 
To find him in their playing. 


20 

GRADE 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

At eve he dons his nightgown green, 

And goes to bed right early, 

At mom he spreads his yellow skirts 
To catch the dewdrops pearly; 

A darling elf is Dandelion, 

A roguish wanton sweeting; 

Yet he is loved by ev’ry child, 

All give him joyous greeting. 

— Kate L. Brown 


GRADE II 

FALL TERM 

THE WIND AND THE LEAVES 

“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day. 
“Come o’er the meadows with me, and play; 

Put on your dresses of red and gold — 

Summer is gone, and the days grow cold.” 

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s loud call, 
Down they came fluttering, one and all; 

Over the brown fields they danced and flew, 
Singing the soft little songs they knew. 

Dancing and flying the little leaves went; 
Winter had called them, and they were content. 
Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds, 

The snow laid a coverlet over their heads. 

— George Cooper 

FAREWELL TO THE FARM 

The coach is at the door at last; 

The eager children, mounting fast 
And kissing hands, in chorus sing: 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

i 21 


22 

GRADE 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

FALL TERM 

To house and garden, field and lawn, 

The meadow gates we swang upon, 

To pump and stable, tree and swing, 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

And fare you well for evermore, 

O ladder at the hayloft door, 

O hayloft where the cobwebs cling, 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

Crack goes the whip, and off we go; 

The trees and houses smaller grow; 

Last, round the woody turn we swing; 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

— R . L. Stevenson 


LITTLE RAINDROPS 

Oh! where do you come from, 
You little drops of rain; 
Pitter patter, pitter patter, 
Down the window-pane? 

They don’t let me walk, 

And they won’t let me play, 
And they won’t let me go 
Out-of-doors at all to-day. 


GRADE II 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 23 

FALL TERM 


They put away my playthings 
Because I broke them all, 

And they locked up all my bricks, 
And took away my ball. 

Tell me, little raindrops, 

Is that the way you play, 

Pitter patter, pitter patter, 

All the rainy day? 

They say I’m very naughty, 

But I’ve nothing else to do 
But sit here at the window; 

I should like to play with you. 

The little raindrops cannot speak; 

But “pitter, patter, pat” 

Means, “ We can play on this side, 
Why can’t you play on that?” 

—Louise Colton 

A CPIRISTMAS CAROL 

The Shepherds had an Angel, 

The Wise Men had a star, 

But what have I, a little child, 

To guide me home from far, 

Where glad stars sing together 
And singing angels are ? 


24 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 


GRADE II FALL TERM 

The Wise Men left their country 
To journey morn by morn, 

With gold and frankincense and myrrh, 
Because the Lord was born: 

God sent a star to guide them 
And sent a dream to warn. 

My life is like their journey, 

Their star is like God’s book; 

I must be like those good Wise Men 
With heavenward heart and look: 

But shall I give no gifts to God?— 

What precious gifts they took! 

—Christina G. Rossetti 


GRADE II WINTER TERM 

WINTER TERM 

THE WIND 

I saw you toss the kites on high 
And blow the birds about the sky; 

And all around I heard you pass, 

Like ladies’ skirts across the grass — 

O wind, a-blowing all day long, 

O wind, that sings so loud a song! 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 25 

II WINTER TERM 

I saw the different things you did, 

But always you yourself you hid. 

I felt you push, I heard you call, 

I could not see yourself at all — 

O wind, a-blowing all day long, 

O wind, that sings so loud a song! 

O you that are so strong and cold, 

O blower, are you young or old ? 

Are you a beast of field and tree, 

Or just a stronger child than me? 

O wind, a-blowing all day long, 

O wind, that sings so loud a song! 

— R, L. Stevenson 


YOUNG NIGHT THOUGHT 

All night long and every night, 

When my mamma puts out the light, 
I see the people marching by, 

As plain as day, before my eye. 

Armies and emperors and kings, 

All carrying different kinds of things, 
And marching in so grand a way, 
You never saw the like by day. 


26 

GRADE 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 

WINTER TERM 

So fine a show was never seen 
At the great circus on the green; 

For every kind of beast and man 
Is marching in that caravan. 

At first they move a little slow, 

But still the faster on they go, 

And still beside them close I keep 
Until we reach the Town of Sleep. 

— R. L. Stevenson 


THE LAND OF NOD 

From breakfast on through all the day 
At home among my friends I stay, 

But every night I go abroad 
Afar into the Land of Nod. 

All by myself I have to go, 

With none to tell me what to do — 

All alone beside the streams 

And up the mountain-sides of dreams. 

The strangest things are there for me, 
Both things to eat and things to see, 

And many frightening sights abroad, 

Till morning in the Land of Nod. 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 27 

GRADE IT WINTER TERM 

Try as I like to find the way, 

I never can get back by day, 

Nor can remember plain and clear 
The curious music that I hear. 

— R. L. Stevenson 


A RIDDLE 

There is a little giant 
Of wondrous power and skill, 

Who can paint a dainty landscape 
Or bridge a lake at will. 

He can make each little flower 
Bow its dainty head; 

The bright green leaves, when he goes by, 
Turn yellow, brown, and red. 

He can pile the ice in mountains, 

Or shape a crystal feather; 

He can break the rocks in pieces, 

Or bring the wintry weather. 

But if you wish this giant 
To turn and run away, 

Just build a little fire, 

Or bring a sunny day.— Anon. 


2 8 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE II SPRING TERM 

SPRING TERM 

DAISIES 

At evening when I go to bed 
I see the stars shine overhead; 

They are the little daisies white 
That dot the meadow of the Night. 

And often while I’m dreaming so, 

Across the sky the Moon will go; 

It is a lady, sweet and fair, 

Who comes to gather daisies there. 

For, when at morning I arise, 

There’s not a star left in the skies; 

She’s picked them all and dropped them down 
Into the meadows of the town. 

—Frank Dempster Sherman 


DANDELION 

There’s a dandy little fellow, 

Who dresses all in yellow, 

In yellow with an overcoat of green; 
With his hair all crisp and curly, 

In the springtime bright and early 
A-tripping o’er the meadow he is seen. 


GRADE U 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 29 

SPRING TERM 


Through all the bright June weather, 

Like a jolly little tramp, 

He wanders o’er the hillside, down the road: 
Around his yellow feather, 

The gypsy fireflies camp; 

His companions are the wood lark and the toad. 

But at last this little fellow 
Doffs his dainty coat of yellow, 

And very feebly totters o’er the green; 

For he very old is growing 

And with hair all white and flowing, 

A-nodding in the sunlight he is seen. 

Oh, poor dandy, once so spandy, 

Golden dancer on the lea! 

Older growing, white hair flowing, 

Poor little baldhead dandy now is he! 

— AT. Garabrant 


THE TREE 

The Tree’s early leaf-buds were bursting their brown: 
“Shall I take them away?” said the Frost, sweeping 
down. 

“No, let them alone 
Till the blossoms have grown,” 

Prayed the Tree, while it trembled from rootlet to 
crown* 


30 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE II SPRING TERM 

The Tree bore its blossoms and all the birds sung: 
Shall I take them away?” said the Wind, as it 
swung. 

“No, let them alone 
Till the berries have grown,” 

Said the Tree, while its leaflets, quivering, hung. 


The Tree bore its fruit in the midsummer glow: 

Said the girl, “May I gather thy sweet berries now?” 
“Yes, all thou canst see: 

Take them; all are for thee,” 

Said the Tree, while it bent down its laden boughs 
low. 


— B. Bjomson 


BED IN SUMMER 

In winter I get up at night 
And dress by yellow candle-light. 
In summer, quite the other way, 

I have to go to bed by day. 

I have to go to bed and see 
The birds still hopping on the tree, 
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet 
Still going past me in the street, 


GRADE II 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 31 

SPRING TERM 


And does it not seem hard to you, 

When all the sky is clear and blue, 

And I should like so much to play, 

To have to go to bed by day ? 

— R. L. Stevenson 


GRADE n NATIONAL SONG 

NATIONAL SONG 

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER 

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, 

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last 
gleaming ? 

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the clouds 
of the fight, 

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly 
streaming ? 

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in 
air, 

Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still 
there; 

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave 

O’er the land of the free and the home of the 
brave ? 


32 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE II NATIONAL SONG 

On that shore, dimly seen, thro’ the mists of the deep, 
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence 
reposes, 

What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering 
steep, 

As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses ? 
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, 
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream; 
’Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh, long may it wave 
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave! 

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, 
Mid the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion, 
A home and a country they’d leave us no more? 
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ 
pollution. 

No refuge could save the hireling and slave 
From terror of flight or the gloom of the grave; 

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave. 

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand 
Between their loved home, and the war’s desolation! 
Blest with Victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued 
land 

Praise the Power that made and preserved us a 
nation. 


GRADE II 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 33 

NATIONAL SONG 


Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, 
And this be our motto, “In God is our trust!” 

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall 
wave 

O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave. 

— Francis Scott Key 


GRADE II FOLK SONGS 

FOLK SONGS 

OLD FOLKS AT HOME 

Way down upon the Swanee Ribber, 

Far, far away, 

Dere’s wha my heart is turning ebber, 

Dere’s wha de old folks stay. 

All up and down de whole creation 
Sadly I roam, 

Still longing for de old plantation, 

And for de old folks at home. 

All de world am sad and dreary, 

Everywhere I roam; 

Oh! darkeys, how my heart grows weary, 
Far from de old folks at home! 


34 

GRADE II 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 


FOLK SONGS 

All round de little farm I wandered 
When I was young, 

Den many happy days I squandered, 

Many de songs I sung. 

When I was playing wid my brudder, 

Happy was I; 

Oh, take me to my kind old mudder! 

Dere let me live and die. 

One little hut among de bushes, 

One dat I love, 

Still sadly to my memory rushes, 

No matter where I rove. 

When will I see de bees a-humming 
All round de comb? 

When will I hear de banjo tumming 
Down in my good old home ? 

All de world am sad and dreary, 

Everywhere I roam; 

Oh! darkeys, how my heart grows weary, 

Far from de old folks at home! 


Foster 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 35 

GRADE II FOLK SONGS 

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT 

Sleep my child, and peace attend thee, 

All thro’ the night; 

Guardian angels God will send thee 
All thro’ the night. 

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, 

Hill and vale in slumber steeping, 

I my loving vigil keeping, 

All thro’ the night. 

While the moon her watch is keeping, 

All thro’ the night; 

While the weary world is sleeping, 

All thro’ the night. 

O’er thy spirit gently stealing, 

Visions of delight revealing, 

Breathes a pure and holy feeling, 

All thro’ the night. 

Hark, a solemn bell is ringing, 

Clear thro’ the night; 

Thou, my love, art heav’n-ward winging. 

Home thro’ the night. 

Earthly dust from off thee shaken, 

By good angels art thou taken, 

Soul immortal thou shalt waken, 

Home thro’ the night,— Old Welsh 


3 ^ 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 


GRADE n 


FOLK SONGS 


OLD GRIMES 

Old Grimes is dead; that good old man, 
We ne’er shall see him more; 

He used to wear a long, black coat, 

All buttoned down before. 

His heart was open as the day, 

His feelings all were true; 

His hair was some inclined to gray, 

He wore it in a queue. 

He lived at peace with all mankind, 

In friendship he was true; 

His coat had pocket-holes behind, 

His pantaloons were blue. 

He modest merit sought to find, 

And pay it its desert; 

He had no malice in his mind, 

No ruffles on his shirt. 

His neighbors he did not abuse, 

Was sociable and gay; 

He wore large buckles on his shoes, 

And changed them every day. 


GRADE II 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 37 

FOLK SONGS 


His knowledge, hid from public gaze, 
He did not bring to view, 

Nor make a noise town-meeting days, 
As many people do. 

His wordly goods he never threw 
In trust to fortune’s chances, 

But lived (as all his brothers do) 

In easy circumstances. 

Thus undisturbed by anxious cares 
His peaceful moments ran; 

And everybody said he was 
A fine old gentleman. 


— A. G. Greene 


38 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE II SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

THE BOY AND THE SHEEP 

Lazy sheep, pray tell me why 
In the pleasant fields you lie, 

Eating grass and daisies white 
From the morning till the night. 

Everything has work to do; 

None are idle — why are you ? 

“Nay, my little master, nay; 

Do not serve me so, I pray; 

Do you see the wool that grows 
On my back to make your clothes ? 

Very cold would children be, 

If they had no wool from me. 

“True, it seems a pleasant thing, 

Nipping daisies in the spring; 

But what chilly nights I pass 
On the cold and dewy grass! 

Oft I pick my scanty fare 

Where the ground is brown and bare. 

“Then the farmer comes at last, 

When the merry spring is past; 

Cuts my woolly fleece away 


GRADE II 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 39 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 


For your coat in wintry day. 

Little master, this is why 

In the pleasant field I lie .’’—Jane Taylor 

GOOD-NIGHT AND GOOD-MORNING 
A fair little girl sat under a tree, 

Sewing as long as her eyes could see; 

Then smoothed her work and folded it right, 

And said, “Dear work, good-night, good-night!” 

Such a number of crows came over her head, 
Crying “Caw, caw!” on their way to bed, 

She said, as she watched their curious flight, 
“Little black things, good-night, good-night!” 

The horses neighed, and the oxen lowed, 

The sheep’s “Bleat, bleat!” came over the road; 
All seeming to say, with a quiet delight, 

“Good little girl, good-night, good-night!” 

She did not say to the sun, “ Good-night! ” 

Though she saw him there like a ball of light; 

For she knew he had God’s time to keep 
All over the world, and never could sleep. 

The tall pink fox-glove bowed his head; 

The violets curtsied, and went to bed; 


40 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE II SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

And good little Lucy tied up her hair, 

And said, on her knees, her favorite prayer. 

And, while on her pillow she softly lay, 

She knew nothing more till again it was day; 

And all things said to the beautiful sun, 

“Good-morning, good-morning; our work is be- 
gun!” 

—Lord Houghton 

THE SONG OF THE THRUSH 
There’s a merry brown thrush sitting up in the tree : 
He’s singing to me! he’s singing to me! 

And what does he say, little girl, little boy? 

“Oh, the world’s running over with joy! 

Don’t you hear? Don’t you see? 

Hush! look! in my tree 
I’m as happy as happy can be!” 

And the brown thrush keeps singing, “A nest, do you 
see, 

And five eggs hid by me in the juniper tree ? 

Don’t meddle, don’t touch, little girl, little boy, 

Or the world will lose some of its joy! 

Now I’m glad! now I’m free! 

And I always shall be, 

If you never bring sorrow to me.” 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 41 

GRADE II SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree, 

To you and to me, to you and to me; 

And he sings all day, little girl, little boy: 

“Oh, the world’s running over with joy! 

But long it won’t be — 

Don’t you know? don’t you see? 

Unless we are as good as can be!” 

— Lucy Larcom 


APRIL 

Good-morning, sweet April, so winsome and shy, 
With a smile on your lip and a tear in your eye, 
There are pretty hepaticas hid in your hair, 

And bonny blue violets clustering there. 

The spring beauties wake for the girls and the boys, 
And the earth grows green without bustle or noise. 
From tiny brown beds now wTapped fold upon fold, 
The loveliest garlands will soon be unrolled. 

Ah! welcome, sweet April, whose feet from the hills 
Have walked down the valleys and crossed o’er the 
rills; 

The pearls that you bring us are dews and warm 
showers, 

And the hem of your garment is broidered with 
flowers. 


42 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE II SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

CLOVERS 

The clovers have no time to play; 

They feed the cows and make the hay, 

They trim the lawn and help the bees 
Until the sun shines through the trees. 

And then they lay aside their cares, 

And fold their hands to say their prayers, 

And bow their tired little heads 
And go to sleep in clover beds. 

Then, when the day dawns clear and blue, 

They wake and wash their hands in dew; 

And as the sun climbs up the sky, 

They hold them up and let them dry; 

And then to work the livelong day, 

For clovers have no time to play. 

— Helena Leeming Jellijje 


GRADE III 

FALL TERM 

SEPTEMBER* 

The goldenrod is yellow; 

The com is turning brown; 

The trees and apple orchards 
With fruit are bending down. 

The gentian’s bluest fringes 
Are curling in the sun; 

In dusty pools the milkweed 
Its hidden silk has spun. 

The sedges flaunt their harvest, 

In every meadow nook; 

And asters by the brook-side 
Make asters in the brook. 

From dewy lanes at morning 
The grapes’ sweet odors rise; 

At noon the roads all flutter 
With yellow butterflies. 

* From “Poems,” by Helen Hunt Jackson. Copyright, 1892, by 
Roberts Brothers. 


43 


44 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE HI FALL TERM 

By all these lovely tokens 
September days are here, 

With summer’s best of weather, 

And autumn’s best of cheer. 

— Helen Hunt Jackson 


THE LITTLE LEAVES 

“We must go,” sighed little Ruby, 
Orange, Topaz, Garnet, Gold; 

“For the chilly breeze is calling, 

And the year is growing old. 

Good-bye, quiet, sunny meadow, 

That we never more shall see; 

Good-bye, winding brooks of silver, 
Snow lambs and dear old tree — 
Dear old loving mother tree.” 

From the branches down they fluttered 
Like a rainbow scattered wide; 

And the old tree looked so lonely, 

That was once the woodland’s pride; 

But the wind came wildly piping, 

And they danced in glee; 

Ruby, Topaz, Garnet, Orange, 

Soon forgot the poor old tree — 

Poor old loving mother tree. 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 45 

GRADE III FALL TERM 

But when skies of drear November 
Frowned upon their wild delight, 

All the little leaves grew lonely, 

And they wandered back one night, 

And they nestled in a hollow 
At the foot of the old tree, 

Sighing, “All the long white winter 
We shall now as quiet be, 

Near our dear old mother tree.” 

— George Cooper 


THE CHILD AND THE BIRD 

“Oh, where are you going, my dear little bird? 

And why do you hurry away ? 

Not a leaf on the pretty red maple has stirred, 

In the sweet golden sunshine to-day.” 

“I know, little maiden, the sunshine is bright, 

And the leaves are asleep on the tree, 

But three times the dream of a cold winter’s night 
Has come to my children and me. 

“So, good-bye to you, darling, for off we must go, 
To the land where the oranges bloom, 

For we birdies would freeze in the storms and the 
snow, 

And forget how to sing in the gloom,” 


46 

GRADE III 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 


FALL TERM 

“Will you ever come back to your own little nest?” 
“Ah, yes, when the blossoms are here, 

We’ll return to the orchard we all love the best, 
And then we will sing to you, dear.” 

—Margaret Sangster 


CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE 

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night! 
Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine, 
Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine, 
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white, 
Christmas where cornfields lie sunny and bright! 

Christmas where children are hopeful and gay, 
Christmas where old men are patient and gray, 
Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight, 
Broods o’er brave men in the thick of the fight, 
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night. 

For the Christ-Child who comes is the Master of all; 
No palace too great and no cottage too small. 

—Phillips Brooks 


GRADE III 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 47 

WINTER TERM 


WINTER TERM 

THE NEW YEAR 

The New Year comes in the midnight hour 
When the beautiful world is still, 

And the moonlight falls in a silver stream 
Over meadow and wood and hill. 

We cannot hear the tread of his feet, 

For so silently comes he; 

But the ringing bells the good news tell 
As they sound over land and sea. 

Where’er he steps new joys upspring, 

And hopes, that were lost or dim, 

Grow sweet and strong in the golden hours, 
That he everywhere bears with him. 

He brings us snow from the fleecy clouds; 
He sends us the springtime showers; 

Fie gladdens our world with the light of love 
And fills its lap with flowers. 

Some day, as softly as he came, 

He will pass through the open door, 

And we who sing at his coming now 
Will never see him more.— Zetterberg 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

WINTER TERM 

SNOWFLAKES 
Out of the sky they come, 

Wandering down the air, 

Some to the roofs, and some 
Whiten the branches bare; 

Some in the empty nest, 

Some on the ground below, 

Until the world is dressed 
All in a gown of snow; 

Dressed in a fleecy gown 
Out of the snowflakes spun; 

Wearing a golden crown, 

Over her head the sun. 

Out of the sky again 

Ghosts of the flowers that died 
Visit the earth, and then 
Under the white drifts hide. 

— Frank Dempster Sherman 

THE MOON 

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; 
She shines on thieves on the garden wall, 

On streets and fields and harbor quays, 

And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees. 


48 

GRADE m 


GRADE IH 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 49 

WINTER TERM 


The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse, 
The howling dog by the door of the house, 
The bat that lies in bed at noon, 

All love to be out by the light of the moon. 

But all of the things that belong to the day 
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way; 

And flowers and children close their eyes 
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise. 

— R. L. Stevenson 


THE SKY BRIDGE 

Boats sail on the rivers, 

Ships sail on the seas; 

But the clouds that sail across the sky 
Are prettier far than these. 

There are bridges on the rivers 
As pretty as you please, 

But the bow that bridges heaven, 

And overtops the trees, 

And builds a bridge from earth to sky 
Is prettier far than these. 

— Christina G. Rossetti 


50 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE III SPRING TERM 


SPRING TERM 

THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT 

The Owl and the Pussy Cat went to sea 
In a beautiful pea-green boat: 

They took some honey and plenty of money 
Wrapped up in a fine-pound note. 

The Owl looked up to the stars above 
And sang to a small guitar. 

“O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love, 

What a beautiful Pussy you are, 

You are, 

What a beautiful Pussy you are!” 


Pussy said to the Owl, “ You elegant fowl, 

How charmingly sweet you sing! 

Oh, let us be married; too long we have tarried; 

But what shall we do for a ring?” 

They sailed away for a year and a day, 

To the land where the bong tree grows; 

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood 
With a ring at the end of his nose, 

His nose, 

With a ring at the end of his nose. 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 51 

GRADE III SPRING TERM 

“ Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling 
Your ring?” said the Piggy, “I will.” 

So they took it away and were married next day 
By the Turkey who lives on the hill 
They dined on mince and slices of quince, 
Which they ate with a runcible spoon; 

And hand in hand on the edge of the sand, 

They danced by the light of the moon, 

The moon, 

They danced by the light of the moon. 

—Edward Lear 

SEVEN TIMES ONE 

There’s no dew left on the daisies and clover, 
There’s no rain left in heaven; 

I’ve said my “seven times” over and over, 

Seven times one are seven. 

I am old, so old I can write a letter; 

My birthday lessons are done; 

The lambs play always, they know no better — 

They are only one times one. 

O Moon! In the night I have seen you sailing 
And shining so round and low; 

You were bright, ah, bright! but your light is failing— 
You are nothing now but a bow. 


52 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE III SPRING TERM 

You Moon, have you done something wrong in 
heaven, 

That God has hidden your face? 

I hope if you have, you will soon be forgiven, 

And shine again in your place. 

O velvet bee, you’re a dusty fellow; 

You’ve powdered your legs with gold! 

O brave marshmary buds, rich and yellow, 

Give me your money to hold! 

O columbine, open your folded wrapper, 

Where two twin turtle-doves dwell! 

O cuckoopint, toll me the purple clapper 
That hangs in your clear green bell! 

And show me your nest, with the young ones in it — 
I will not steal it away; 

I am old! you may trust me, linnet, linnet — 

I am seven times one to-day.— Jean Ingelow 

THE RUNAWAYS 

I found a little brook one day — 

That baby brook had run away; 

’Twas just as wide as my two hands; 

It skipped along o’er yellow sands, 

And oh, ’twas full of fun and play, 


GRADE m 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 53 

SPRING TERM 

The little brook than ran away. 

The baby clovers bent to look 
And see their faces in my brook; 

Now some wore bonnets, red I think, 

And some, white bonnets, tipped with pink. 
Their coats were green as green could be, 

They nodded slow and grave at me. 

A birdie came with yellow bill, 

He dipped his head and drank his fill; 

Then winked at me with shining eye, 

Then splashed the crystal drops on high, 

Then smoothed his feathers one by one 
Until they glistened in the sun. 

I saw a grave old turtle pass 

With crawling steps across the grass; 

A crow cawed from the pine trees high, 

A hawk was circling in the sky, 

And sunning on some mossy logs, 

I counted seven green-coated frogs. 

The brook and I — we sang a song, 

The summer hours were none too long; 

The sun crept westward through the sky — 

I said, “Dear little brook, good-by!” 

Then thought, “Oh, what will mother say!” 

You see — I, too, had run away! 

— Kate L. Brown 


54 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE III SPRING TERM 


THE BLUEBIRD 

I know the song that the bluebird is singing, 

Up in the apple tree where he is swinging. 

Brave little fellow! the skies may look dreary — 
Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery. 

Hark! how the music leaps out from his throat! 
Hark! was there ever so merry a note? 

Listen awhile and you’ll hear what he’s saying, 
Up in the apple tree swinging and swaying. 

“Dear little blossoms down under the snow, 

You must be weary of winter, I know; 

Hark, while I sing you a message of cheer! 
Summer is coming, and springtime is here! 
Little white snowdrop, I pray you, arise; 

Bright yellow crocus, come open your eyes; 
Sweet little violets, hid from the cold, 

Put on your mantel of purple and gold! 
Daffodils! daffodils! say, do you hear? 
Summer is coming, and springtime is here!” 

— Emily H. Miller 


GRADE III 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 55 

NATIONAL SONG 


NATIONAL SONG 

THE AMERICAN HYMN 

Speed our Republic, O Father on high! 

Lead us in pathways of justice and right; 
Rulers, as well as the ruled, “One and all,” 

Girdle with virtue the armor of might! 

Chorus 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 
Rulers as well as the ruled, “One and all,” 
Girdle with virtue the armor of might! 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 

Foremost in battle for Freedom to stand, 

We rush to arms when aroused by its call; 

Still as of yore, when George Washington led, 
Thunders our war cry: We conquer or fall! 

Chorus 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 
Still as of yore when George Washington led, 
Thunders our war cry: we conquer or fall! 
Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 


56 Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GILADE m NATIONAL SONG 

Faithful and honest to friend and to foe — 

Willing to die in humanity’s cause — 

Thus we defy all tyrannical pow’r, 

While we contend for our Union and laws! 

Chorus 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 
Thus we defy all tyrannical pow’r, 

While we contend for our Union and laws! 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 

Rise up, proud eagle, rise up to the clouds, 
Spread thy broad wings o’er this fair western 
world, 

Fling from thy beak our dear banner of old, 

Show that it still is for freedom unfurl’d! 

Chorus 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag! 
Fling from thy beak our dear banner of old, 
Show that it still is for freedom unfurl’d! 

Hail! three times hail to our country and flag] 

— M. Kellar 


GRADE m 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 57 

FOLK SONGS 


FOLK SONGS 

MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME 

The sun shines bright in the Old Kentucky home; 

’Tis summer, the darkies are gay; 

The corn-top’s ripe, and the meadow’s in the bloom, 
While the birds make music all the day. 

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor, 

All merry, all happy and bright; 

By’m by, hard times comes a-knockin’ at the door:— 
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night! 

Weep no more, my lady, 

O, weep no more to-day! 

We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home, 
For the old Kentucky home, far away. 

They hunt no more for the ’possum and the coon 
On the meadow, the hill, and the shore; 

They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon, 

On the bench by the old cabin door. 

The days go by like a shadow o’er the heart, 

With sorrow where all was delight; 

The time has come when the darkies have to part: 
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night ! 


Gold Nuggets 0} Literature 


58 

GRADE III FOLK SONGS 

The head must bow and the back will have to bend. 
Wherever the darky may go; 

A few more days, and the trouble all will end. 

In the fields where the sugar-canes grow: 

A few more days for to tote the weary load — 

No matter, ’t will never be light; 

A few more days till we totter on the road; 

Then my old Kentucky home, good-night! 

Weep no more, my lady, 

O, weep no more to-day! 

We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home, 
For the old Kentucky home, far away. 

— Foster 


AFTON WATER 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, 
Flow gently, I’ll sing thee a song in thy praise; 
My Mary’s asleep by thy murmuring stream, 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. 

Thou stock-dove whose echo resounds through the 
glen, 

Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den, 
Thou green-crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear, 
I charge you disturb not my slumbering fair. 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 59 

GRADE III FOLK SONGS 

How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighboring hills, 

Far marked with the courses of clear winding rills; 
There daily I wander as noon rises high, 

My flocks and my Mary’s sweet cot in my eye. 

How pleasant thy banks and green valleys below, 
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow; 
There oft as mild evening weeps over the lea, 

The sweet-scented birk shades my Mary and me. 

Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides, 

And winds by the cot where my Mary resides; 

How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave, 

As, gathering sweet flowrets, she stems thy clear wave. 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, 
Flow gently, sweet river, the theme of my lays; 

My Mary’s asleep by thy murmuring stream, 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. 

— Robert Burns 


60 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE in SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 


SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH 

Under a spreading chestnut-tree 
The village smithy stands; 

The smith, a mighty man is he, 

With large and sinewy hands; 

And the muscles of his brawny arms 
Are strong as iron bands. 

His hair is crisp, and black, and long; 

His face is like the tan; 

His brow is wet with honest sweat, 

He earns whate’er he can, 

And looks the whole world in the face, 
For he owes not any man. 

Week in, week out, from mom till night, 
You can hear his bellows blow; 

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, 
With measured beat and slow, 

Like a sexton ringing the village bell, 
When the evening sun is low. 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 
GRADE m SUPPLEMENTARY 

And children coming home from school 
Look in at the open door; 

They love to see the flaming forge, 

And hear the bellows roar, 

And catch the burning sparks that fly 
Like chaff from a threshing floor. 

He goes on Sunday to the church, 

And sits among his boys; 

He hears the parson pray and preach, 
He hears his daughter’s voice 

Singing in the village choir, 

And it makes his heart rejoice. 

It sounds to him like her mother’s voice 
Singing in Paradise! 

He needs must think of her once more, 
How in the grave she lies; 

And with his hard rough hand he wipes 
A tear out of his eyes. 

Toiling — rejoicing — sorrowing, 

Onward through life he goes; 

Each morning sees some task begun, 
Each evening sees it close; 

Something attempted, something done, 
Has earned a night’s repose. 


61 

POEMS 


62 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 

GRADE III SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend. 

For the lesson thou hast taught! 

Thus at the flaming forge of life 
Our fortunes must be wrought; 

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped, 

Each burning deed and thought. 

— Henry W. Longfellow 


HURRAH FOR THE FLAG! 

There are many flags in many lands, 
There are flags of every hue, 

But there is no flag however grand, 

Like our own “Red, White, and Blue.” 

I know where the prettiest colors are, 
And I’m sure if I only knew 

How to get them here I could make a flag 
Of glorious “Red, White, and Blue.” 

I would cut a piece from an evening sky, 
Where the stars were shining through. 

And use it just as it was on high, 

For my stars and field of blue. 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 63 

GRADE III SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

Then I’d want a part of a fleecy cloud, 

And some red from a rainbow bright, 

And put them together side by side, 

For my stripes of red and white. 

We shall always love the “Stars and Stripes” 
And we mean to be ever true 
To this land of ours and the dear old flag, 

The Red, the White, and the Blue. 

Then hurrah for the flag! our country’s flag, 

Its stripes and white stars too; 

There is no flag in any land 

Like our own “Red, White, and Blue.” 

—Mary Howliston 

A CHILD’S THOUGHT OF GOD 

They say that God lives very high! 

But if you look above the pines 
You cannot see our God. And why? 

And if you dig down in the mines, 

You never see Him in the gold, 

Though from Him all that’s glory shines. 

God is so good, He wears a fold 
Of heaven and earth across His face — 

Like secrets kept or love untold. 


64 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE m SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

But still I feel that His embrace 
Slides down by thrills, through all things made, 
Through sight and sound of every place: 

As if my tender mother laid 
On my shut lids her kisses’ pressure, 

Half waking me at night; and said, 

“Who kissed you through the dark, dear guesser?” 

— Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

A WINTER SONG 

Hurrah for the jolly old winter, 

The King of the season is he, 

Though his breath is cold and icy, 

His heart is full of glee. 

He oils up the beautiful snowflakes 
On the apple trees bare and brown, 

And laughs when the north wind shakes them, 
Like a shower of blossoms down. 

Hurrah for the jolly old winter, 

Who shouts at the door by night, 

“Come out where the ice is gleaming 
Like steel in the cold moonlight.” 

Like swallows over the water 
The skaters merrily go, 

There’s health in the blustering breezes, 

And joy in the beautiful snow. 

— Emily Huntington Miller 



Gold Nuggets oj Literature 65 

GRADE m SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

JACK FROST 

Some one has been in the garden, 

Nipping the flowers so fair; 

All the green leaves are withered; 

Now, who do you think has been there? 

Some one has been in the forest, 

Cracking the chestnut burrs; 

Who is it dropping the chestnuts, 

Whenever a light wind stirs? 

Some one has been on the hilltop, 

Chipping the moss-covered rocks; 

Who has been cracking and breaking 
Them into fragments and blocks? 

Some one has been at the windows, 

Marking on every pane; 

Who made those glittering pictures 
Of lace-work, fir-trees, and grain ? 


Some one is all the time wortng 
Out on the pond so blue, 

Bridging it over with crystals; 

Who is it, now? Can you tell who? 


66 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE m SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

While his good bridge he is building, 

We will keep guard at the gate; 

And when he has it all finished, 

Hurrah for the boys that can skate! 

Let him work on: we are ready; 

Not much for our fun does it cost! 

Three cheers for the bridge he is making! 
And three, with a will, for Jack Frost! 

—Selected 


THE RAINBOW FAIRIES 

Two little clouds one summer day 
Went flying through the sky. 

They went so fast they bumped their heads, 
And both began to cry. 

Old Father Sun looked out and said, 

“Oh, never mind, my dears, 

I’ll send my little fairy folk 
To dry your falling tears.” 

One fairy came in violet, 

And one in indigo, 

In blue, green, orange, red — 

They made a pretty row. 

They wiped the cloud tears all away, 

And then from out the sky, 

Upon a line the sunbeam made 
They hung their gowns to dry. 

— Lizzie M. Hadley 


GRADE III 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 67 

SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 


LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE * 

Little Orphan! Annie’s come to our house to stay; 

An’ wash the cups and saucers up, an’ brush the 
crumbs away, 

An* shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the 
hearth, an’ sweep, 

An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her 
board an’ keep; 

An’ all us other children, when the supper things is 
done, 

We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest 
fun, 

A-list’nin’ to the witch tales ’at Annie tells about, 

An the Gobble-uns ’at gits you 
Ef you 
Don’t 
Watch 
Out! 

Onc’t they was a little boy who wouldn’t say his 
pray’rs — 

An’ when he went to bed at night, away upstairs, 

His mammy heerd him holler, an’ his daddy heerd 
him bawl, 

♦ From “Afterwhiles,” by James Whitcomb Riley, copyright, 1887. 

Used by special permission of the publishers, the Bobbs-Merrill 

Company, 


68 


Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE III SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

An* when they tum’t the kivvers down, he wasn’t 
there at all! 

An they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby¬ 
hole, an’ press, 

An’ seeked him up the chimbly flue, an’ ever’ wheres, 
I guess, 

But all they ever found was thist his pants an’ round¬ 
about ! 

An’ the Gobble-uns ’ll git you 
Ef you 
Don’t 
Watch 
Out! 


An’ one time a little girl ’ud alius laugh an’ grin, 

An’ make fun of ever’one an’ all her blood-an’- 
kin; 

An’ onc’t when they was “company,” an’ ole folks was 
there, 

She mocked ’em an’ shocked ’em, an’ said she didn’t 
care! 

An’ thist as she kicked her heels an’ tum’t to run an’ 
hide, 

They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by 
her side, 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 69 

GRADE in SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ’fore she 
knowed what she’s about! 

An’ the Gobble-uns ’ll git you 
Ef you 
Don’t 
Watch 
Out! 

An’ little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is 
blue, 

An’ the lamp wick sputters, an the wind goes woo-oo! 
An’ you hear the cricket quit, an’ the moon is gray, 
An’ the light’nin’ bugs in dew is all squenched away— 
You better mind yer parents, an yer teachers fond 
an’ dear, 

An’ churish them ’at loves you, an’ dry the Orphant’s 
tear, 

An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ’at clusters all about, 
Er the Gobble-uns ’ll git you 
Ef you 
Don’t 
Watch 
Out! 

— James W. Riley 


70 Gold Nuggets oj Literature 

GRADE III SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

THE TREE, THE NEST, AND THE EGGS 

There was a tree stood in the ground, 

The prettiest tree you ever did see, 

With the green grass growing all around. 

Now in this tree there was a branch, 

The prettiest branch you ever did see — 

The branch on the tree and the tree in the ground, 
And the green grass growing all around. 

Now on this branch there was a nest, 

The prettiest nest you ever did see — 

The nest on the branch and the branch on the tree. 
And the tree in the ground, 

And the green grass growing all around. 

Now in this nest there were some eggs, 

The prettiest eggs you ever did see — 

The eggs in the nest and the nest on the branch, 
The branch on the tree and the tree in the ground, 
And the green grass growing all around. 


— Anon. 


Gold Nuggets of Literature 71 

GRADE III SUPPLEMENTARY POEMS 

FOUR LEAF CLOVER* 

I know a place where the sun is like gold, 

And the daisy blooms burst with snow; 

And down underneath is the loveliest nook, 

Where the four leaf clovers grow. 

One leaf is for hope and one is for faith, 

And one is for love, you know, 

But God put another in for luck — 

If you search, you will find where they grow. 

But you must have hope and you must have faith. 

You must love and be strong, and so, 

If you work, if you wait, you will find the place 
Where the four leaf clovers grow. 

—Ella Higginson 


♦ From “When the Birds Go North Again,” by Ella Higginson. 
Copyright, 1898, by The Macmillan Company. By permission of the 
publishers. 



















MAR 13 1912 
















